Curtain stretcher



Oct.2,1928. 1,686,253

E. J. QUIGGLE CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed June 4, 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 2, 1928.

E. J. QUIGGLE CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed June 4, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

EDGAR J. Q'UIGGLE, OF SHELBYQOHIO.

CURTAIN sr'nnrcnnn.

Application filed .Tune 4,

be capable of being taken apart for the purpose of storing the frame when not in use,

but one of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means whereby the frame may be folded into a compact package without requiring that the parts of the frame be disassembled one from the other. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a strong and simple curtain pin, adapted to be slidably positioned .on the said frame, and constructed from a single piece of sheet metal stamped and formed as hereinafter described.

Another object is to provide a plurality of legs adapted to be "securely, yet adjustably, fastened to said frame.

With the above and other objects in view. my invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and more particularly illustrated in the preferred embodiment as shown in vi} the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a curtain stretcher, as constructed according to my invention, the portions cut away being similar to those shown.

Figure 2 is an end view of a curtain stretcher as disclosed in Figure '1, but supported a slanting position by the adjustable legs.

Figure 3'is an enlarged top plan view of one of the latch joints.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of one of the latch joints, unlatched and partly opened, along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through one of the frame bars, showing the method of positioning the slidable curtain PlIlS.

t Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the slidable curtain pins.

Figure 7 .is a perspective view of a portion 50 of one of the legs, showing the forked end thereof. 1

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the frame in its folded position.

Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates a pair of longitudinal 1927. Serial No. 196,426.

frame bars, each of which is broken at a suitable point in its length and hinged as by latch joints111, so as to permit of the same folding upon themselves, and 12 indicates a pair of cross frame bars, each of which is also broken at a suitable point in its length and also hinged as by latch joints 11 so as to permit of the same foldingupon themselves. The longitudinal bars 10 and the cross bars 12 have slots 13 parallel with the sides of the bars and extending for a portion of the length thereof, and bolts 14 having-wing nuts 15 are adapted to engage said slots and lock the cross bars upon the longitudinal bars in any desired position. Legs 16, having one end provided with angularly bent forks 17, are adapted to be engaged-by any of the bolts 14. The angularly bent forks 17 are formed with two planes of engagement with said bolts; one plane 18 being parallel :with the longitudinal axis of the leg, and the other plane 19 being angularly disposed to the ion gitudinal axis of the leg, whereby the leg may be mounted on the frame angularly thereto as shown in Figure 2, or the leg may be mounted on the frame so as to be parallel thereto, as shown in full lines in Figure 9.

The longitudinal bars 10 and the cross bars 12 are formed to a similar cross section, as shown in Figure 5, and comprise a rectangular body portion 20, having the slots 13 (passed perpendicularly therethrough; the sai body portion 20 is rabbeted or cut away upon its inner edge and throughout the length thereof so as to form a cutout 21; the base 22 of the cutout 21 has a longitudinally extending ver-' tically disposed groove 23 near its outer edge, v

and at the inside corner of the cutout 21 the wall 24 thereof has a longitudinally extending horizontally and inwardly disposed groove 25. The curtain pins 26 are adapted to .slidably rest upon the base 22 of the cutout, and; to slidably engage the groove 23 as by dependent tongues 27, and also to slidably engage the groove 25 as by a horizontally disposed tongue 28; the vertically disposed.

stamped and formedas heretofore described.

The latch joints 11 comprise spaced'side plates 31 connected by a CI'QSigPlCG 32. v A

bolt 33 having wings 34 at one end and a round head 35 at the other end threadedly engages the cross piece 32 intermediately of the side plates 31. The opposing ends of the frame bars, as at 37 where the said bars are broken to form the joints, are pivoted to the side plates 31 so as to be spaced apart as at 36 to permit the said bolt 33 to pass thereinbetween.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the opposing ends 37 of the frame bars, where the said bars are broken to form the joints, are enclosed in U-shaped members comprising side pieces 38 disposed parallel to the sideplates 31 and pivoted thereto as b ins 39, and so that the end pieces 40 o t e said U-shaped members which are in opposing relation when the joint is closed are spaced apart so as to permit the said bolt 33 to pass thereinbetween. The endpiece 40 of the said U-shaped member is provided with a lip 41 so disposed as to beoppositely of the cross piece 32 when the joint is closed; the said lip 41 has a notch 42 adapted to receive the said bolt 33 whereby the said lip 41 may en a e the underside of the head 35 of the said bolt. When the joint is closed, as shown in Figure 3, the lip 41 positioned as described on the one end 37 of the frame bar is adapted tocoact with the lip 41 similarly positioned on the other and opposing end 37 of the frame bar so as to engage the bolt 33 between them, whereby the head 35 of the said bolt is adapted to lock the said opposing ends of the frame bar in aligned relation to each other as by turning the bolt by means of the wings 34 aforesaid so as to cause the said bolt to pass inwardly the latch joint 11.

When my invention is in use, the latch joints being in their closed position and the opposing ends of the bars being locked in aligned relation as described, the said bars may be .placed in any desired position relative to one another as heretofore described.

When it is desired to cfold up the frame, how-t ever, the bolts 33 are caused to pass outwardly the said latch joints 1150 as to unlock the opposing end of the bars, as shown in Figure 4, and the wing nuts 14 on the bolts 14 are loosened, whereuponthe legs 16 may be positioned so as to be arallel with the said bars, and the said bars olded upon themselves, as shown 'n Figures 8 and 9, so as. to occupy a relative y small space.

When the invention is in use, as described, and it is desired to stretch a curtain or other article in the frame, the curtain pins 26 may be slid upon the bars so as to be most suitable for holding. the-curtain, and the curtain having been stretched within the frame, the

frame may then be placed in a slanting position as described so as to favor the circulation of air through the curtain and quicken the drying thereof. Fixed pins 26 may be employed, if desired, on certain portions of the frame, in addition to the slidablepins 26.

I claim:

1. In a bar for a curtain stretcher having opposed and coacting portions adapted to be positioned in aligned relation to each other, and spaced side plates pivotally engaging-said opposed and coacting portions, a cross piece connecting said side plates, a locking means threadedly engaging said cross piece and adapted to pass between said opposing and coacting portions, and lips formed on said opposing and coacting portions adapted to engage said locking means.

2. A curtain holder for a'curtain'stretcher comprising a stamping having one portion of one edge bent so as to form a perpendicularly disposed guide, the other portion of said edge extending parallel to said holder, and the other edge having a perpendicular pin disposed in the same direction as said guide and also having a perpendicular finger disposed oppositely to said pin.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

EDGAR J. QUIGGLE, 

